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Mr. Jones Blu-ray Review

     Actors: Jon Foster, Sarah Jones, David Clennon, Diane Neal
  • Director: Karl Mueller
  • Format: Blu-ray, NTSC, Widescreen
  • Language: English
  • Subtitles: English, Spanish
  • Aspect Ratio: 1.85:1
  • Number of discs: 1
  • Rated: PG-13 (Parental Guidance Suggested)
  • Studio: ANCHOR BAY
  • Release Date: May 6, 2014
  • Run Time: 84 minutes


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            There are so many ways in which this film fails; I don’t want to accidentally encourage more of this behavior from future filmmakers by pointing out the few things that it does right. The last thing that we needed is another found footage horror film, even one that thinks outside of the box. And even in some creative plot twists, the unpleasantness of the presentation in the last half of the film far outweighs any elements of creativity. Not nearly as complex as it likes to think it is, not as scary as it had the potential to be, and not enjoyable enough to recommend to even die-hard genre fans, Mr. Jones is mostly just an annoying bore.

     


             Young couple Scott and Penny (Jon Foster and Sarah Jones) retreat to a remote cabin in the woods for a period of creative inspiration. Scott plans to make a documentary film, though no particular plans or topic of choice before escaping to the middle of nowhere. He basically just seems to bring the camera along in order to video tape his random thoughts and all of the happenings in his relationship with Penny. It gets obnoxious when the camera is filming them in the middle of the night as they sleep. At least Paranormal Activity gave something of an explanation for the cameras filming at night. Mr. Jones dismisses logic early on in the film, never looking back as the film dives deeper into absurd territory.

     

            Scott begins to slip into depression when he realizes that he has no idea what he is making a movie about. At times during Mr. Jones I couldn’t help but wonder is this was a transparent sentiment shared by Karl Mueller at the lack of focus within his own film. Fortunately for Scott, Karl, and arguably the audience, a topic for each film is chosen in the mysterious artist called Mr. Jones. This unknown artist sends sculptures to random people across the world, and Scott and Penny happen to accidentally have discovered him in the wilderness.

     

            I won’t give away any more of the plot out of respect to the filmmaker. The fact that there was a shift in the direction for the second half of the film does not necessarily mean it gets any better. It is still like two bad movies, but the best part is the surprise in shifting directions. The Blu-ray has no special features.

     

    Entertainment Value: 5/10

    Quality of Filmmaking: 4/10

    Historical Significance:  1/10

    Special Features: 0/10

     

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